How to choose a longboard

They might all look same from the naked eye, but the truth is that longboards differ a lot from one particular brand to the other. Starting from having a different construction, the best longboard brands offers product having distinct features and designs for their valuable customers. Furthermore, these products are designed to serve needs of a specific customer. When one longboard can work all so well for your friend, same might not be the case with you. As a result, it might get a little confusing for a customer when it comes to his/her preferred longboard selection.

But worry not. In order to make this purchase a doddle for our valuable readers, the below-mentioned guide will contain all the information which one might need in this aspect. Afterward, users can easily purchase the best longboard as per their needs.

Buying Guide – Things to look for in the best longboard

Styles of Riding

The longboard riding can be done for more than one purposes. Varying from the freestylers to the regular commuters, this particular product comes handy in multiple ways.

So before setting foot in the market, customers should make themselves familiar with what kind of riding are they going to do and it will eventually help them to select the right product.

Cruising

For users who are relatively new to this sport, this is the kind of riding which they will do on their respective longboards. Basically, it is that type of longboarding where riders will move through sloped streets or flat surfaces while going to attend their classes, traveling to the workplace or even visiting the nearby retail store.

Considering such riders who have to counter the pedestrians for more often than not, they should consider buying small longboards. It will help them to make their way through the crowds without getting stuck in the traffic. However, if the foot traffic is thin in your area, go for the board which is longer in shape for having increased stability.

Downhill

Longboarding on a downhill terrain is all about speed and ferocity. However, while doing so, riders have to maintain stability as well in order to have the utmost control over their longboards. This type of riding is normally associated with skilled riders who can go over 60 MPH while riding on their longboards.

Freestyle Riding

As evident from the name, there are no rules associated with this type of riding. Freestylers can ride wherever they want and in order to do so, use whatever types of longboards without any restriction. When such sort of riding is normally associated with newbies, experts usually do it to have some fun.

Riders perform multiple tricks while doing freestyle riding so the board on which they ride should also be well equipped.

Freeride

One for the experts, who can control their longboards through extremely larger descents, Freeride involve longboarding on the hills. It involves high-speed riding, sharp turns and sliding to improve your control over the longboard. In terms of fulfilling such kind of demands, the longboards for freeride are generally much well-constructed by all means.

Deck Style

The deck is the flat board on which you will stand when longboarding. Once you’ve decided what type of riding you are going to do, now is the time to select the deck style for your longboard. This particular feature plays a key role in improving the stability of your board, how well it performs and finally the ease of riding on different types of terrains.

Remember, the higher board will translate into the higher center of gravity. As a result, you will enjoy less stability while suffering from foot fatigue. But on the other hand, it will help the riders to move at a swift speed which is not possible with the lower boards.

Top Mount

A traditional shape, this is generally the most inexpensive longboard which riders can purchase from today’s market. Having a mounted top, it means that this board will utilize a higher center of gravity and consequently, lesser stability. However, these boards can attain a much higher speed than their drop-through counterparts which makes it a viable purchase for almost all types of riding. In fact, it is such a versatile design so that even the professional riders opt for top mounted design in their preferred longboards.

DropThrough

For users who have to ride to a considerable distance, they should go for the drop through design. In this shape, the deck is mounted on the truck in order to have a lower COG. So when users will feel less fatigue while having a proper amount of stability, such a longboard is good to use for downhill, freeride as well as cruising for greater distances.

DoubleDrop

This particular design features a unique style to keep your feet much closer to the ground at all times. It eventually results in greater stability as compared to the above-mentioned types but when it is difficult to construct, the double drop decks are usually the most expensive longboards which customers can purchase.

As per their preferred usage, this kind of deck normally goes into the construction of longboards for downhill riding.

LongboardShape

Nowadays, Longboards usually comes in two different shapes. Both of them have their pros and cons, so riders should think carefully before selecting either of them.

Directional

With the directional longboards, there is just one way to go and that is forward. Featuring an asymmetrical design along the movement’ direction, this shape is associated with carving, cruising as well as downhill riding.

TWIN Longboards

Also known as the Symmetrical Longboards, the TWIN longboards provides similar feel in all directions. It can be ridden in either direction and for freestylers, who have to perform 180-degree slides, this is the way to go.

Flex

When it comes to flex rating, it can depend on many factors namely the material of construction, the concave and finally, the length of the longboards. But as per its importance, it differentiates the amateur longboards from that of the professional riders.

Soft Flex

Most forgiving. For amateur riders, boards with the softer flex provide admirable shock absorption on uneven terrains. As already mentioned, such types of boards should be used for smooth cruising as these are just not suitable for the high-end users.

Medium Flex

Having a greater degree of flex as compared to the aforesaid type, these are ideal for an amateur to mid-level riders who will use the longboards for cruising or traveling purposes at a moderate speed.

Stiff Flex

For the high-end users, such types of boards possess the least degree of forgiveness. They can be used for riding at extremely higher speeds as they will stay intact without any hesitation. So if you’re looking to purchase a longboard for riding through the hills or even freeriding, this should be your ideal purchase.

Features

The best longboards are equipped with certain special features which make them distinct regarding the intended usage.

KickTail

The bent edges of the longboard deck, the Kicktails are there to assist a rider in order to enjoy a greater degree of maneuverability. These are present in the everyday skateboards as riders use them to lift the skateboard for doing all sorts of tricks.

Kick Tail is present on one end in case of the directional longboards. And as far as the symmetrical boards are concerned, they have two kicktails with one on either end of the board

WheelWells

In order to stop the wheels from making contact with the board in any way, the wheel wells are of utmost importance. If the wheel touches the deck even slightly, it will cause the board to stop in an abrupt manner. It can have dire consequences for the users who can then be thrown away from the board. Hence, the wheel wells allow the riders to take hard turns without worrying about any such discrepancy.

Concave

Longboards having such a feature will have slightly higher edges as compared to the center of the deck. Such a construction is necessary to keep the best longboard shoes intact as the rider is taking swift turns at an enhanced speed. Basically, it will increase the contact area of the feet with the surface of the deck. So when the users will have a solid traction with the deck’s surface, it will keep them from slipping at a consistent basis.

This feature is normally important with downhill riding where users are always craving for a higher degree of stability. So you will normally see the downhill boards having higher edges as compared to the ones for freestyling.